Tag Archive | "Howard City"

A Howard City teenager was reported to be in critical condition after an accident Friday, September 19.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, the accident occurred about 5:37 p.m. They reported that a 16 year-old female from Howard City was driving west on Washburn Street just East of Sycamore Street in her 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup, when she entered the dirt section of Washburn and attempted to fish tail her truck and lost control.

The vehicle ran off the north edge of the roadway and, upon re-entering the roadway, rolled over 1-1/4 times. The driver was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Campus by Aero Med and was reported to be in critical condition.

The two passengers in her vehicle—a 16-year-old girl from Pierson and a 16-year-old girl from Howard City—were transported to the hospital by private vehicle. Both were treated and released.

They were all wearing seatbelts. Police said neither alcohol or drugs are believed to be a factor in the crash.

A 27-year-old Howard City man has been arrested for a hit and run accident that occurred on Tuesday, April 29 in Howard City.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, the accident occurred about 7:02 p.m. on Walnut Street, near Cedar Street. A 2007 Ford Ranger was traveling eastbound on Walnut Street and preparing to turn into a private drive, when it was struck from behind by a 1999 Ford Explorer. The Ford Explorer then left the scene. Witnesses and occupants of the Ranger were able to provide deputies with a description of the driver and the vehicle’s registration plate.

One occupant of the Ford Ranger, a 20-year-old Jenison woman, was treated by Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services at the scene for injuries to her head and neck. She declined to be transported to a hospital. A 37-year-old Kentwood woman, a 23-year-old Jenison man, and a 1-year-old child, also from Jenison, were uninjured in the crash.

A witness to the crash had followed the Explorer to a residence a short distance from the scene and provided the location to deputies. A 27-year-old Howard City man was then lodged at the Montcalm County Jail for Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident and Driving while License Suspended.

Alcohol use was not involved in the crash and all occupants of the vehicles involved were wearing their seatbelts. The accident remains under investigation.

Howard City Police Officers are now Montcalm County Sheriff Deputies. Pictured left to right: Former Chief Steve Dewitt; Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen

The Village of Howard City and the County of Montcalm recently approved an agreement that would merge the Howard City Police Department with the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office. This means that the three full time police officers serving Howard City—Former Chief Steve Dewitt, and Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen—became Sheriff Employees March 1, 2014. The agreement also provides for the transfer of two patrol vehicles to the Sheriff’s Office along with some additional police and office equipment.

“This agreement is an excellent example of Government agencies working together to provide the best and most economical way to provide services to the citizens in their community,” Sheriff William Barnwell stated. “All three of the officers are very qualified and have done an excellent job with the Howard City Police Department. I am confident they will continue to do so as they assume their new role as Sheriff Deputies.”

“This agreement will enhance our existing Police activities,” said S. Michael Scott, Howard City Village President. “We have had an excellent Police Department for decades. However, with changes in requirements and administration, it has become increasingly difficult to have our officers on the road as many hours as we would like. This agreement, with the administrative resources that the Sheriff’s Office provides, will allow more proactive Policing. It is always difficult to change but we feel that it is the right time and the change will not only benefit both the citizens of the Village and Township but also the Sheriff’s Department,” said Scott.

The existing police agreement between the Village of Howard City and Reynolds Township for 20 hours of police protection per week will now be handled by the Sheriff’s Office. This means that Howard City will pay the Sheriff’s Office for 5,000 hours of police hours per year and the Township will pay for 1,000 hours for a total of 6,000 patrol hours or three full time Deputies per year.

The Village will pay the county $511,170 over the course of nearly three years. The contract will expire on December 31, 2016, at which time the village may either continue to contract for services or reestablish their own department. Reynolds Township will pay the county $29,820 through the end of 2014. However, the Township may choose to extend the contract for additional years at the end of their contract.

Citizens in Howard City and Reynolds Township should call 911 for all emergencies. For non-emergency calls or to contact a Sheriff Deputy please call Montcalm County Central Dispatch at 989-831-3500 or the Sheriff’s Office at 989-831-7590.

This van rolled on to its roof after it was struck by a motorcycle in Howard City Sunday, October 13. Two died as a result of the crash. Courtesy photo.

A crash between a motorcycle and a minivan on Sunday evening has resulted in the deaths of both drivers.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, Tony Magoon, 46, of Morley, was traveling southbound on his 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, on Ensley Street in Howard City, at a high rate of speed on Sunday, October 13, at about 7:04 p.m., when witnesses say he ran a red light at W. Shaw Street and struck the side of an eastbound van. The van then rolled over onto its rooftop in the intersection.

The driver of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the van, William MacTavish. 84, of Howard City, was transported to the hospital by AeroMed, with life-threatening injuries. He died from his injuries Wednesday afternoon.

A passenger in the van, Betty MacTavish, wife of William, also in her 80s, suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Assisting at the scene was the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, Montcalm County EMS, and the Howard City Fire Department.

Someone is stealing from gravesites in Reynolds Township Cemetery in Howard City, and the police are asking for help from residents to nab the culprits.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, a family grave plot in the cemetery on Almy Road, in Montcalm County, has been the site of repeated theft. About two weeks ago, the victim reported that someone had stolen two large Rose of Sharon bushes from the family plot. They were well-established rose bushes, about 3.5 to 4-feet tall. The victim replaced these bushes last Sunday with new young rose bushes. It was discovered Wednesday that these were stolen also. Due to footprints in the wet grass, it is believed this happened possibly overnight or early this morning.

“We are asking for your help with this very disrespectful crime,” said Chief DeWitt. “Someone will notice a family member or neighbor planting new rose bushes.”

Another ongoing theft at the cemetery involves War Veteran medallions/flag holders. The Veteran of Foreign Wars post in Howard City reported to police t hat since Memorial Day, someone has stolen 19 large brass flag holders from Veteran’s gravesites. Police believe the medallions were stolen for scrap value.

If you have any information on either of these thefts, please call the Howard City Police at 231-937-4311.

An alert neighbor led to the arrest of three suspects for unlawfully entering a home in Howard City last week.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, an area resident saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway of a vacant home in the 8000 block of Mackinaw Trail, in Reynolds Township, on Thursday, September 19, about 10:44 p.m. The resident noticed flashlights moving around inside and called police.

The Howard City Police arrived and confirmed the presence of subjects in the home. They confronted the suspects, who refused to exit the home until confronted inside by the Police. Montcalm County Sheriff Department and the Lakeview Police Department also assisted at the scene.

The homeowner was contacted and confirmed that no one should be in the home and wished to press charges. All three suspects were arrested and lodged at the Montcalm County Jail. Arrested was Alyssa Miller, age 19 of Rockford; Tyler Barry, age 20 of Howard City; and Marcus Dekker, age 19 of Howard City. They were arraigned in the 64B District Court and charged with Unlawful Entry. A quantity of alcohol was also seized from the under-aged suspects.

The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 18-year-old Howard City man on June 11, and a sixteen year old Howard City youth will be cited into Juvenile Court, in connection with a break-in that occurred on Kendaville Road, in Pierson Township, over the Memorial Weekend.

Anthony Thomas Russell was charged and arraigned on two felony charges—breaking and entering, and larceny from a building. The 16-year-old is facing the same charges in juvenile court. Police said the main focus of the theft seemed to be tools, with some of the stolen items being recovered.

The case remains under investigation and the Sheriff’s Office continues to pursue others involved in this case.

A daytime breaking and entering complaint was handled in the Howard City area by the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post on September 1. A residence near Maple Hill Rd and M-82 was broken into and three flat screen TVs were taken. This incident is believed to have occurred between 11:00 a.m and 12:30 p.m.
Another complaint was handled on September 1, in reference to a larceny of vehicle tires. The tires were stolen off of a personal vehicle that was parked at Peasely Trucking, located at 15015 W. M-46 near Amble Rd.
Anybody with information on either of these thefts is requested to contact Trooper Rice at the Lakeview Post at (989) 352-8444.

It’s that time of year again—can’t you feel it? Time for some football!

Fans are looking forward to Friday night, August 26, when the Cedar Springs Red Hawks travel a short way north to take on neighboring rival the Howard City Tri County Vikings!

This year will mark the second year in a row the teams have met to renew a rivalry of years gone by. Before last year’s game, which the Red Hawks won 33-6, Cedar Springs had only played Howard City Tri County twice since Sand Lake and Howard City merged in the early 1960s. They played them in both 1982 and 1983, for the last game of the season, when they were part of the Tri River Conference. Cedar Springs lost 14-0 and 20-15, respectively. Prior to that Cedar Springs faced Howard City in 1954 and 1955, winning 60-0, and 64-0, respectively, when they were part of the Newaygo County conference. They did not face Sand Lake in the 1950s or 1960s, though they did play both Sand Lake and Howard City in earlier years.

Game time is 7 p.m. The Cedar Springs Cross Country team will run the game ball down the White Pine Trail to the Vikings’ football field, so be sure to get there early to see it happen!

A Howard City man was arrested last week for stealing from an 84-year-old Reynolds Township woman.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steven DeWitt, Roman Lewis Vanderniet, 26, of Howard City, his girlfriend, and their baby stopped unexpectedly at the elderly woman’s house (she is an acquaintance) to visit. After they left, she found her purse was open, and cash was missing, along with a large amount of prescription painkillers from the home.

On the evening of February 16, they stopped by again. The victim reported that Vanderniet asked if he could lay the baby on the victim’s bed to rest. He then entered her room and closed the door, while his girlfriend engaged her in conversation in the living room.

When the elderly woman went to her bedroom to check Vanderniet, she found him standing in her closet. After they left, she found her closet had been gone through, more cash had been stolen from her purse, and a birthday card with cash was missing. She also found the window in her bedroom unlocked, and fresh footprints in the snow outside of the window.

When police located Vanderniet in the early morning hours of February 17, he admitted to taking some money from the victim and unlocking the bedroom window with the intention of returning.

He was arrested and lodged in Montcalm County Jail. Vanderniet was charged with larceny from a building, a four-year felony and/or $5,000 in fines. He was arraigned on February 17 and released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.

Chief DeWitt reminds citizens to beware of who you let into your home, and not to keep prescription pills in your bathroom or medicine cabinet where they are easily accessible to other who use the room.

“This is a very common method of theft of prescription medication,” said DeWitt.